Gas and liquid separator



June 27, 1933.

T. V. MOORE ET AL GAS AND LIQUID SEPARATOR Filed Aug. 22, 195o I 9 3 779. glelfyn..

lawdrmmq l Patented June 27, 1933 Y PATENT OFFICE THOMAS V.

STANDARD MOORE AND REIT-RY D. WIL-DE, JR.,

OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY,

0F HOUSTON, TEXAS, ASSIGNOBS TO .A CORPORATION 0F DELAWARE GAS ANDLIQUID SEPARATOB Application led August 22, 1930. Serial No.l -477,010.

This invention relates to the separationof gas from liquid, such ashydrocarbon o ils, with which it is intermixed'. The invention will befully understood from the following description taken in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which latter Fig. 1 is a longitudinalsectional view 'through a separator;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line II-II of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line III-III ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a bailie; and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of an auxiliary baiiie. A

Referring to the drawing, reference numeral 1 desi ates a shell which is.carried in substantia y vertical position by a support 2. The shell isprovided at its upper portion with an outlet opening 3 through whichgas, free rom entrained liquid, is adapted to be discharged. .The shellis provided at its lower portion with a discharge opening to which isconnected an outlet pipe 4 having a valve 5. Means are provided formaintaining a predetermined level of liquid in the bottom ofthe shell.The meanscomprises a container 7 which. communicates through a line 8with the interior of the shell. below the normal level of liquid in theshell. The upper portion of container 7 communicates with the interiorof the shell above the normal level of liquid in the shell by means of aline 9. A iioat 10 is disposed within the container 7 and is adapted toactuate valve 5 through a connection 11.

An assembly through which the mixture of gas and liquid is first passedis disposed in the shell. The assembly includes a tube 15 having aclosed end 16. A tube 17 of relatively small diameter projects throughthe 4closed end 16 and terminates the larger tube to form an annularchamber 18 with a portion only of the largerftube.` Tube 17 is providedwith a closed end 19 exteriorly of the larger tube and has openings 20in its side walls intermediate its closedend 19 and the closed end 16 ofthe larger tube. Vanes 21 project outwardly tangentially over theopenings from an edge of each opening 2O of the smaller tube 17.

The assembly is disposed in the lower portion of the shell in spacedrelation to the side, walls of the shell to form an annular pas sage 23with the side walls. The assembly is disposed in spaced'relation to thebottom of the shell and provides a reservoir for the separated liquidbetween the assembly and the bottom of the shell". A conduit 24 leadsinto the shell and'opens tangentially through: tube 15 into the upperportion of the annular chamber 18. The assembly is supported in spacedrelation to the shell by means of the spacedv supports 25 and by meansof the rods 26 with the open end of the annular chamber openingdownwardly.

The mixture of gas and liquid is injected through conduit 24 into theupper portion of the annular chamber 18 under suliicient pressure tocausevthe mixture to travel in a helical path downwardly through theannular cham'- ber at suiiicient speedto centrifugally separate themajor portion of the gas and liquid. The liquid is forced to theJradially outer portion of the annular chamber while the gases seek theradially inner portion of the annular chamber. The 'thus separatedliquid falls by gravity into the reservoir at the bottom of the shellwhere it is permitted to accumulate to a level intermediate the open endof the larger tube 15 and the annular chamber 18. Float 10 is adjoustedto maintain this level of cseparated liquid in the shell. Consequentlythe separated gas reverses its general direction of travel and flowsupwardly through the relatively small tube 17 and is discharged from thetube through the opencarries 'some entrained liquid is greatly relargescrubbing surface before nally passduced in passing through the enlargedzone ing out `of the separator through opening 3. and the carrying powerof the gas for the By the construction described centrifugal entrainedfluid is reduced toaminimum. In force is utilized for the separation ofgas case the mixture of gas and liquid is introfrom a mixture of gas andliquid. The speed 70 duced into the assembly under relatively high oftravel of the separated gas is then reduced pressures and the pressureof the gas forces to a minimum and thereby the carrying powthe liquid inthe reservoir below the level er of the gas for entrained liquid isminiof the inner tube 15 and thus permits the gas mized. The greatestpossible reversal of flow to escape from the assembly through the of thethus treated gas is then effected and a 75 annular passage 23 ratherthan through the maximum of scrubbing surface is presented pipe 17. Insuch a case, the supports 25 for to the gas. v lthe assembly function asbaiiles to effect the Various changes may be made within the extractionof entrained liquid from such gas scope of the appended claims, in whichit is as does pass through this annular passage. desired to claim allnovelty inherent in the 80 Bailies 30 and 31 are provided in the upperinvention as broadly as the prior art permits. portion of the shell at asubstantial distance We claim:

rom the assembly. Balile 30 consists of a 1. A separator, comprising ashell, an asplate which extends transversely across the sembly in theshell 'ncluding a tube having shell from the wall adjoining the upperopena closed end, and a tube 0f relativdy Small 85 ing upwardly betweenthe assembly and opendiameter projecting through the closed end, ing andterminates beyond the opening in and termlnating within the larger tubeto spaced relation to the shell. In. the preform an annular chamberwithaportion only ferred embodiment this baille extends at an of thelarger tube, the smaller tube havin angle of a proximately 30 to thecenter line a closed end exteriorly of the larger tube an 9 of the shelThe baile is provided, adjacent having o enings in its side wallsintermediate its lowest oint, with an opening 32 as can be its closedpend and the closed end of the l'ar er seen in ig. 4. By thisconstruction any tube, the assembly disposed in 'the shell with liquidcollected by the bale can be returned the annular chamber openingdownwardly,

.so through the opening down the side wall of the assembly being inspaced rel-ation to the 5 the shell to the main body of liquidin theside walls of the shell to form an annular bottom ofthe shell without-re-entrainment passage therewith and disposed in spaced' ofany of theliquid in the gas. A lar e porrelation to the bottom of the shell, and acontion of the entrained liquid is normal deduit opening tangentiallyinto the annular p'osited upon the up er surface of b e 30. chamberftheshell having discharge openings 10 he baile is incline at such an anglethat above and below the assembly. a relatively small quantit of theseparated 2. Aseparator according to claim 1 includliquid will build ups cient hydrostatic ing vanes projectingoutwardly tan ntially head toforce the liquid through opemng 32 over the openm froman edge of t eopeno and be delivered to the main ody 4of liquid ings of the sma ertube. 105 in the' bottom of the shell. D ue Vto theshaxp 3. A separatoraccording to claim'l includinclination of this baffie, the velocityhea s-ing means for maintainin a level of li uid of the gas on o posite sidesof the bale tend in the shell intermediate t e open end o the to balanceand t ereby keep the pressure drop larger tube and the annular chamber.

5 across opening 32 at a minimum, when the 4. A separator, comprising ashell, an asno small quantity of separated liquid passes sembly intheshell including a tube having ,downwardly to the main body of liquid 1nthe a closed end, a tube of relatively small diambottom of the shell.eter projecting through the closed end and Baie 31 comprises a platewhlch extends terlmnating within the larger tube to form an 5 upwardlytransversely across-the shell from annular chamber with a portion only.of the 115 the wall of the shell opposite the first menlar er tube, thesmaller tube having a closed tioned baiile toward, an terminates, 1nspaced en exteriorly of the larger tube and having relation to the lowerIportion of the first m'eiio enings in its side walls intermediate itstioned baie plate. aille 31 1s provlded with cllsed end and the closedend 0f the larger 55 an openin 33 at approximately the .lowest tube, andVvanes projecting outwardly tan- 120 point of t e junction of the bailewith the gentially over the openings from an edge of shell wall. Any ofthe entrained l1 uid theppenings the assembly dis sed in the whichaccumulates upon the upper sur ace shell with the annular cham r ope ofthis baille is returned through opening downwardly, the assembly bein inspac 0 33 downthe side wall of the shell to the relation to the sidewalls of the s ell to form 125 reservoir. Baes 30 andv 31 co-operate toan annular passage therewitlr and disposed cause substantially reversalof direction of in spaced relation to the bottomof the shell, gas How.In the preferred embodiment the a conduit o nin tan entially into theanchangeindirection of gas flow may approxinular cham r, t e s ellhaving openin 05 mate 270. .The gas is caused to passI over a above andbelow the assembly, means for 130 intheshellinmaintaining n lnel ofliquid the lar 1: tube termediate the open end o and the annularchamber, shell extending across the sh adjoining the up r openingupwardl between the assem 1y and opening an minating beyond the o inspaced relation tn the shell, the bale having an opening opposite thefirst mentioned bse toward, and terminating, in spaced relation to thelower portion o the first mentioned baa, the baille having junction ofthe bailie with the wail.

THOMAS V. MOORE.

HENRY D. WILBE, Jn.

an opening adjoining the

